Dental bite block



Oct. 14, 1958 .T. P. ROSE 2,855,670

DENTAL BITE BLOCK Filed Dec. 11, 1956 INVENTOR H /W45 P R055 wag @W ATTORNEY United States Patent DENTAL BITE BLOCK Thomas P. Rose, Palm Beach, Fla.

Application December 17, 1956, Serial No. 628,755

6 Claims. (Cl. 32-19) This invention relates to a dental bite block and it has for its object to provide an improved device of this nature constructed to be securely installed and retained within the mouth and comprising means for preventing the grinding of the upper and lower teeth together during sleep. This is a very widespread habit among human beings and is especially prevalent among children. When persisted in over long periods it frequently results in the creation of pyorrhea.

The construction of the bite block of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bite block constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a rear view; and

Fig. 4 is an underside or bottom view.

To preserve the clarity of the drawing the views are somewhat magnified.

The device of the invention embodies a body 5 comprising a relatively thin biting platform 6 of about two millimeters in thickness, which, when the device is in position in the mouth, lies in position to receive the incisal edge of the six upper anterior teeth, thus separating these teeth and the teeth of the lower jaw from contact with each other. From the rear side 7 of the biting platform the body extends rearwardly in the form of a bowed or concave-convex web 8, shaped to fit in the roof of the mouth, much as a dental plate would do. The edge portion of web 8 is provided with recesses 9, relatively sharp points 10 between said recesses serving to enter the spaces between the adjacent teeth at the inner side of the upper jaw to aid in anchoring the device in the mouth. A wire retainer 11 is provided with a central notch forming portion 12, which portion spans the fleshy web known as the frenum and which web attaches the central inner part of the upper lip to the upper gum. From the notch forming portion 12 the wire of the retainer extends toward the sides of the device in runs 13 (which are at a height to lie close to the mucous membrane which attaches the upper lip to the gum). Downwardly and inwardly directed runs 14 lead from the ends of runs 13 and at their lower ends terminate in runs 15, which in the manufacture of the device are securely embedded or molded into engagement with the body 5.

The said body may be made of any suitable one of the many synthetic plastics commonly used in the dental art, such as methylmethacrylate, for example. The invention is not limited to the use of any particular material.

It is to be noted that the portion of the wire retainer comprised by the runs 13 and 14 lie in an almost vertical plane, as a whole, while the runs 15 lie much nearer the horizontal and extend to a considerable distance rearwardly of the vertical plane of runs 13. This yields a rigid attachment between the wire retainer and the body 2,855,670v Patented Oct. 14, 1958 ice 5, whereby the retention of the bite block in place in the mouth is assured.

The upper face of the biting platform 6 is provided with a plurality of shallow recesses 6*, within which the upper incisors find lodgement to resist lateral shifting of the bite block with respect to said incisors. In like manner the lower face of the biting platform may be provided with an arcuate recess 6 adapted to be engaged by the lower teeth. The bottom surface of this recess may be roughened or serrated so that lateral movement of the platform with respect to the said lower teeth will be resisted.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly fall within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A dental bite block of the character described consisting of a body comprising a relatively thin biting platform adapted to lie between and separate the upper and lower teeth of the user and an integral rearwardly extending concave-convex portion shaped to fit the roof of the mouth of the user and a wire retainer comprising runs positioned to extend laterally of the mouth and close to the juncture of the upper lip with the gum, runs extending downwardly from the outer ends of the first named runs and inwardly and rearwardly directed runs extending from the ends of the last named runs and embedded in and rigidly afi'ixed to the material of the body.

2. A structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the wire retainer is shaped to provide a V-shaped depression at its central portion of a size to span the frenum of the user.

3. A structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the upper face of the biting platform is provided with a plurality of shallow recesses shaped and positioned to receive the upper incisors.

4. A structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the upper face of the biting platform is provided with a plurality of shallow recesses shaped and positioned to receive the upper incisors and the lower face of the biting platform is provided with a recess positioned to receive the upper edges of the lower incisors of the user.

5. A structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said body is provided along its side edges with recesses separated by relatively sharp points adapted to enter the spaces between the adjacent upper teeth.

6. A dental bite block comprising a body of moldableplastic material shaped to form a relatively thin biting platform along its forward edge, and a rearwardly extending concave-convex portion shaped to conform to the roof of the mouth of a user, the upper face of the biting platform being provided with a plurality of shallow, spaced recesses positioned to receive the lower edges of upper incisors of the user, and the side edges of the body being provided with a plurality of recesses separated by relatively sharp pointed portions, and a retainer of wirelike material comprising a run extending substantially horizontally and in a plane above the biting platform, said run having a centrally disposed V-shaped portion, dimensioned to span the frenum web of the user, downwardly extending runs at the ends of the horizontal run and inwardly and rearwardly directed runs which are molded rigidly in the said plastic body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 522,212 How July 3, 1894 FOREIGN PATENTS 275,547 Switzerland Sept. 22, 1949 

